Nonna's Spaghetti and Broccoli
A one dish meatless meal that's creamy cheesy Italian American comfort food straight from Nonna's kitchen.
Servings: 6
Calories: 710kcal
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp salt
- 1- pound spaghetti broken into 2-3" pieces
- 1/2 cup olive oil
- 2 12 oz pkgs fresh broccoli florets
- 8-10 cloves garlic peeled, crushed, and minced
- 1/4 tsp freshly grated black pepper
- 1 1/2-2 cups grated Romano cheese or more to taste
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella or more to taste
- 1/2 cup shredded Parmesan
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Fill an 8-quart pot just under 3/4s full of water. Stir in the salt and bring to a rolling boil.
- Stir in the spaghetti,oil, garlic, pepper, and broccoli.
- Bring the mixture back to a boil and let boil for about 2-3 minutes. Cover the pot, turn off the heat and let the mixture sit for about an an hour and a half, stirring every 15 minutes, until the pasta is cooked through and has absorbed most of the liquid.
- At the 45 minute mark, stir in the romano cheese, until melted and evenly incorporated. As soon as the pasta's cooked, stir in the remaining cheeses until melted and serve.
- Top with additional grated Parmesan, if desired and enjoy with a piece of warm crusty bread.
Notes
Just a reminder, this is more of a soup than a pasta dish! The pasta is not firm and al dente like a macaroni and broccoli served with less liquid. You can add more water if you prefer it more "soupy”, and you will have to add more when reheating any leftovers.
Nutrition
Calories: 710kcal | Carbohydrates: 64g | Protein: 31g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 13g | Cholesterol: 61mg | Sodium: 4185mg | Potassium: 451mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 860IU | Vitamin C: 60.2mg | Calcium: 610mg | Iron: 2.1mg